Because She Loved Us: The True Story of Seven Mares

Yawning, the earthpony responded nonchalantly to her friend. "Yeah, some ponies disagreed with our policy of Friendship. Ah quickly changed their mind."

Pouring them both some Apple Acres Cider from their rations, Twilight gave a glass to AJ telling her. "You know Rarity is going to have your head being out of the body armor she designed, right?"

"Ah'm sure it will be just-"

"APPLEJACK! WHERE IS YOUR DRESS, MISSY?"

A very enraged Rarity holding her combat knife, stood in the doorway, glaring at Applejack and ignoring the red upon her friend. "You think just because you had to fight off an enemy while we were sleeping, you can just ignore the armored dress I made for you?"

"Rar you know I'm not into girly things like fash-"

Applejack tried to object only to find a knife at her throat. "Applejack you will wear that dress and you will like it, understood?"

Twilight smiled. Seeing the typical Aj, Rarity breakfast argument made her laugh. Perhaps they hadn't changed at all after all. just another day in paradise She gave a small frown. That reminded her. She needed to help Pinkie before they left.

"Ugh, Rarity, why do I have to wear this?"

Applejack and twilight turned their head and burst out laughing. Rainbow Dash hovered in the doorway, a Bronze breastplate adorning her midriff. Rarity lowered the knife and slowly trotted towards Rainbow her eyes conveying her malice. "Because I spent hours making that for you. Because it looks gorgeous on you, and because you will end up modeling it in my Ponyville Botique for eternity if you don't wear it right now, understood Dah-ling?"
Seeing the gleam in her friends eyes, Rainbow Dash decided to simply avoid this fight. Rarity was notorious for her obsession with her fashion after all. "Er- right, right! It does look rather cool especially the lightning bolt in the center, thanks Rarity."

Rarity smiled happily and everypony seemed at ease until Rainbow stated. "So why isn't AJ in hers?"

Once again the knife was at Applejack's throat. "Yes Dah-ling why is that?"

Applejack threw her hooves up, this was one fight she knew she couldn't win. "Alright Rar, no need t' be hasty, Ah'm goin' to put it on, be right back!"

Twilight still grinning trotted from the room, as the knife thudded into the doorframe as Applejack ran from the room. Rarity's angry voice could be heard. "You better!"

Heading to where Pinkie, Starlight and Fluttershy lay, she thought to herself. Glad to see my friends enjoying themselves. Such playful mares. Twilight stood before the three mares, her horn glowing as she began a magic spell. A purple glow surrounded her three friends. Shortly after and panting slightly from the exertion, her horn stopped glowing and the three opened their eyes. She smiled lovingly at them. "Rise and shine girls!"

Starlight and Fluttershy's wounds had healed over and they seemed full of vigor and energy though just moments ago appeared as if knocking on death's door. Pinkie had the bright gleam in her eyes once more. "Hey Twilight, want to see something funny?"

Twilight preened her wings in amusement. "Sure Pinkie, make me smile."

Pinkie seemingly vanished only to reappear skidding into place holding a resident of Manehatten in her grasp. The pony was very clearly deceased though it was evident it had just happened. Pinkie stuck a hoof up the back of the gutted stallion and began using the corpse as a puppet. "Knock, knock"

Twilight grinned, she adored Pinkie's sense of humor. Pinkie looked at the meat puppet and asked, "who's there?"

"Pizzas."

"pizzas who?"

"Pizzas, I seem to have fallen to Pizzas!"

Twilight laughed as Pinkie dropped the still oozing corpse and giggled. "Made you smile, Twilight!"

Twilight hugged Fluttershy and Starlight as all three laughed at the joke. "You always do Pinkie. You always do."

The aging of her friends seemed to have vanished, and Twilight smiled happily. Everything is okay now. That morning after a few fires from Pinkie's entertainment and a couple rather vicious debates from those against their policy of friendship, the seven mares began the trot back towards Canterlot, behind them the city of Manehatten, completely leveled, burning and now consisting of a population of five.

The wind blew furiously across the desert plateau. As the seven trotted back, minus Rainbow Dash who flew by their side, Twilight stumbled. It was a small movement, and it was lost on every mare, except one. Applejack caught the hoof slip and almost just as quick her voice rang through the ears of all those present. "ALL STOP! WE'RE MAKIN' CAMP!"

Every head turned to look at the Earthpony in confusion, but it soon became clear why. Applejack had rushed over to support Twilight who seemed unable to keep her balance and leaned against her stalwart friend. Twilight smiled sheepishly and said."Don't worry about me I'm fine."

Placing a hoof around her friend, Applejack Glared into her face. "Don't you dare try ta fib t' meh, Twi. We're making camp and you are getting some rest."

Turning her head she began barking orders to her comrades who were standing still, unsure of what to do. "Rar make us a tent. Rainbow fly as fast as you ken and bring us some water. Fluttershy see if ya ken persuade some o' th' creatures to steer clear of us fer th' night. Pinkie and Starlight, hunt us some food."

The look on her face made it clear any arguing was useless. Every mare immediately began working on the assigned tasks. Twilight whispered to Applejack as she slowly closed her eyes from exhaustion. "Thank you, AJ."

Once again Twilight found herself in Ponyville. Something wasn't right. The ground was littered with ashes and scorch marks, but not a soul or corpse was around. The grass was still green, and none of the buildings were touched. "How strange, I need to inform Princess Celestia."

Teleporting to Canterlot Castle the same strange scene greeted her. Scorch marks covered the castle...but all guards and the royal Princesses were gone. "C-celestia? Luna? Where is everypony?"

A thought suddenly occured to her. What if it was... She immediately teleported to each and every town in the kingdom of Equestria. Each town the same scene greeted her. Am I...the only one left?

Twilight sat bolt upright in the cot on which she lay, panting furiously she screamed as she opened her eyes. "APPLEJACK!"

"She is outside dah-ling. Glad to see you are awake, dear."

Twilight turned her head towards the speaker and saw Rarity sitting on a rock, cuts on her face and flank dripping red as she calmly sat cleaning her prized combat knife as if nothing was wrong. She smiled at Twilight and said. "Nevermind the cuts dear, Found a new material to make some armor, the creature it belonged to, sadly objected. Let me get you some water. You must be parched."

With that Rarity left the tent. Twilight slid out of the cot and stumbled towards the tent flaps. Pulling them aside a grisly scene greeted her. The massive corpses of three desert scorpions were roasting on a fire nearby, mangled and ripped open. The exoskeleton of each looked liked they had been opened with a can opener. Patches of the tough black exoskeleton were missing in places. The bodies had been placed on a massive spit and as they were turned by Rainbow Dash, the juices from within hissed and boiled as they dripped onto the roaring flames.

Pinkie sat upon a rock, her body no longer pink but her fur dyed a dark, wet red. On her back was the apparatus Rarity had made her, The metal scythes forming a set of three giant claws on either side of her, dripped the same wet red hue coating it's owner. She glanced up and waved at Twilight her face and smile splattered red as well. "Hey Twilight! Got Dinner!"